Game of Thrones, Season 2

"Game of Thrones" Season 2

Medium: TV
Created by: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Network: HBO
Dates Aired: April 1-June 3, 2012
Consumption completed: June 5, 2012
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Rating: 8.5/10

"Game of Thrones" is wonderfully-made television. It's thoughtful, well-acted, beautifully filmed. It must be one of the most competently produced works on the air. And from seasons 1 to 2, it only improved.

Almost every episode found its characters separated by miles and miles, but united in theme. It's effective at creating some quality watching. Only in the back end of the season, as the creators try to squeeze as much of the book (A Clash of Kings) into 10 hours, did it start to feel rushed. There was less time for a natural progression for character to character in the need to get everybody's stories ready for the next season.

Still, season 2 is a step up from the first in almost every way. Peter Dinklage needs another Emmy.

'Cancer 4 Cure' (2012) by El-P

Cancer 4 Cure

Medium: Album

Artist: El-P
Label: Fat Possum
Country: United States
Released: May 22, 2012
First Consumed: May 22, 2012
Genre: Hip-Hop
Rating: 9.0/10

The point of J.R.'s Journal of Unhealthy Consumption was to assess a work on my instant reaction. With an unforgiving work schedule, and general procrastination, I've been sitting on this record for over a month (Shhh). I instantly loved it. It was instantly the best thing I'd heard all year. I've been listening to it almost exclusively since early May.

What has that month done to my opinion? Very little besides reinforce my opinion. I'll admit that a new offering by El-P was likely to appeal to me. 2007's I'll Sleep When You're Dead was one of the best records of the decade; while 2002's Fantastic Damage was one of the best hip-hop records. So when Cancer 4 Cure started off with some of El-P's best material yet, I was worried that my mind was exaggerating the quality this album to a great degree. 

Nope. This is the real deal. It's dark, angry, funny, sarcastic, cynical, brilliant, and ultimately hopeful. These are adjectives that could easily be applied to his past albums, but everything here is streamlined and thrillingly paced in a way that the others weren't. The patient, instrumental build-up in the intro of "Request Denied" gives way to a brutal declaration of purpose, which then leads seamlessly into the bass-pumping black humor vitriol of "The Full Retard". And it continues, seamlessly, through the conclusion of "$4 VIC/FTL (Me and You)".

I've lived with and loved I'll Sleep When You're Dead for the past five years. I'm not ready to oust it as my favorite El-P album just yet. But even that classic had a couple clunkers. Cancer 4 Cure has no filler, no waste. I don't know if it will stand the test of time as well as his previous work, but the evidence is currently suggesting it will.

In the City of Sylvia (2008)

In the City of Sylvia

Medium: Film
Director: José Luis Guerín
Country: Spain
Released: 2008
First Consumed: May 22, 2012
Format: Netflix Instant
Rating: 8.5/10

Another film of one person searching for something. A young man spends his days at a cafe, people-watching and sketching beautiful girls. We spend much of the film in the unnamed man's head. We see the beautiful women he sees, from his perspective. And when he takes special notice of one girl, we don't yet know why he starts following her, but it feels right.

We do eventually learn that he is looking for a Sylvia he met there some years ago, but the plot is irrelevant. The film is about perception and memory. The aforementioned sequence is the centerpiece of the film, and it's probably one of the greatest I've seen meant to put the audience totally within the head of its protagonist. His perception informs completely. We struggle, like him, to believe that the girl is not Sylvia. We want, like him, to believe that every passing beautiful girl is Sylvia.

Zatoichi on the Road (1963)

Zatoichi on the Road 

Medium: Film
Director: Kimiyoshi Yasuda
Country:Japan
Released: 1963
First Consumed: May 22, 2012
Format: Hulu Streaming (via PS3)
Rating: 7.0/10

At this early point in the Zatoichi franchise, should I already be getting annoyed with it?

Maybe I've just been raised on the idea of diminishing returns in my film franchises. Damn you, Zatoichi, for being consistently well-made and entertaining.

This time our blind hero must protect a young woman from two rival gangs. She, of course, falls in love with him. If there is one sub-plot I don't enjoy in these films, it's the romance. It worked in the first few times, but the past couple love interests have been unnecessary and felt forced.

Shintaro Katsu is as on as ever, and Kimiyoshi Yasuda fulfills the director role as competently as all those before him.

Next up: Zatoichi's Flashing Sword

'R.A.P. Music' (2012) by Killer Mike

R.A.P. Music 

Medium: Album

Artist: Killer Mike
Label: Williams Street
Country: United States
Released: May 15, 2012
First Consumed: May 17, 2012
Genre: Hip-Hop
Rating: 8.5/10

The first of two El-P related albums released in May. He functions as produced on R.A.P. Music, and the combination of his bass-heavy, synth-y music with Killer Mike's Southern drawl is an unexpectedly successful one. Extremely successful.

As much as I love El-P, and as great as the production is, the lion's share of credit should still go Killer Mike. He comes off as a man who's had a lot on his mind, much of it having to do with social injustice (hear the album's stand-out tracks "Reagan" and "Don't Die"). But like any southern gentleman, he manages to mix in the fun, non-politcal content also. This balance is important to what makes the album work. He's never straight beating you over the head with the message songs, and the slighter tracks give Mike a showcase for his incredible rapping skills and the fantastic beats.

For the next couple Consumption journal entries, this is the album of the year so far.

Le Notti Bianche (1957)

Le Notti Bianche

Medium: Film
Director: Luchino Visconti
Country: Italy
Released: 1957
First Consumed: May 17, 2012
Format: DVD
Rating: 8.0/10

A lowly clerk wanders the streets at night looking for something. He thinks he's found it when he crosses paths with a beautiful blonde willing to give him the time of day. Over the course of four nights he tries to make her fall in love with him. 

We know from the beginning that this happy ending just isn't in the cards. Luchino Visconti adapts Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel into a lush, almost-romance between two lonely souls. Marcello Mastroianni and Maria Schell are the lovers.

I don't have much to say on this one except that Visconti is in his usual masterful form here. The whole thing is shot on a massive set, a rare move for the director; but he seems comfortable.

The film's best scene finds the couple in a dance hall/bar where they dance to some classic rock 'n' roll. It's the only scene that feels grounded in any definable time period, and Mastroianni's wild flailings are a wonder to behold.

A Network Television Round-up

With the exception of the excellent 'Cougar Town', I've finished what I will of the 2011-12 network TV season. Some great shows stayed great, and some didn't. All shows I watch must be great, or good, else I will drop them. I can't go about watching 22 hours a year on something that used to be good. So each show will be followed by a mention of whether I will keep watching or drop it next season.




'How I Met Your Mother' Season 7 (CBS)


If there's one show I'm holding onto for sentimental reasons, it'd be this one. While the overall quality of 'Mother''s latest season didn't come close to matching the classic era of seasons 3-5, there were a number of fantastic episodes here. 'How I Met Your Mother' is far from the shell of its former self I've heard it referred to this year.


Rating: 7.5/10
Does it stay?: Yes. Obviously. I'm in for the long haul for what has been one of my absolute favorite shows. Though that is likely only for one more season.




'Parks and Recreation' Season 4 (NBC)


And we just keep on trucking over in Pawnee, Indiana. Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt's relationship was a highlight, as was there campaign to get Leslie on to city counsel. Tom and Ann's relationship was the low-point for the series since the whole first season. Thankfully, it took up very little screen-time. 'Parks' remains in contention for the title of greatest comedy on network TV.


Rating: 8.5/10
Does it stay?: Yep. No discussion here.




'Once Upon a Time' Season 1 (ABC)


Disney fairytale characters are trapped in modern-day Maine because of a curse. Only Jennifer Morrison can save them. The pilot showed promise, but the next 21 episodes included maybe 4 or 5 hours worth watching. The show got lost spinning its wheels until the final 2 episodes. In the season's finale (SPOILERS) magic was let loose into the modern world. If the previous episodes involving magic are any indication, next season might not get any better. (END SPOILERS)


Rating: 5.0/10
Does it stay? No. I only finished the season because my girlfriend really enjoys it. I'll likely not continue it with her next season.




'Grimm' Season 1 (NBC)


While the debut season of this fantasy/crime procedural had many flaws, including a bummer of a partner and an inability for the love interest to figure anything out, 'Grimm' was a very entertaining show. David Giuntoli grew slowly but surely grew into his role of a normal man capable of seeing supernatural beings living amongst humans. Though the season finale didn't live up the string of strong episodes that preceded it, it left the characters and show with a number of interesting paths  to take next season.


Rating: 7.0/10
Does it stay?: Yes. A show with so many problems is always in danger of droppage mid-season, but for now it's secure.




'Community' Season 3 (NBC)


Even with a less-than-perfect-but-still-stellar season, I'll still give 'Community' the slight edge over 'Parks and Rec' for greatest comedy on network TV. There were a couple of bum episodes (the video game episode immediately springs to mind), and the Chang sub-plot to a good while to really click; but everything came together wonderfully in the end.


Rating: 8.5/10
Does it stay?: Yes. We move to Friday nights for a power hour-and-a-half with 'Grimm'. We'll continue to ignore 'Whitney'




'Saturday Night Live' Season 37 (NBC)


Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg are leaving. The show will definitely miss them. As in any season of SNL, there were a few good episodes, a few bad and many mediocre. 


Rating: 6.0/10
Does it stay?: Every year I think it goes, but I always come back. Will it still hold its appeal without the SNL Digital Shorts?




'Modern Family' Season 3 (ABC)


Remember when this show felt fresh in 2009. It was wonderful. I can think of no other show that's worn out its welcome quite like 'Modern Family' has. Its broad characters and comedy were fun in the beginning, but the show's refusal to grow or develop at all has really become old.


Rating: 5.5/10. I'm feeling generous today. I did laugh some this season.
Does it stay?: No. I'm ready to let go.




'30 Rock' Season 6 (NBC)


Another show that has lost its luster. It's still usually funny. Jack's almost hook-up with his wife's mother was weird. Liz's relationship with James Marsden was generally boring. Tracy Jordan stayed the same. 


Rating: 6.0/10
Does it stay?: Yes, for now. The next 13 episode season is confirmed as its last. Might as well just finish it out at this point.




I should also mention 'Revenge'. I watched the first half of the season, and plan on finishing it over the summer. What a crazy show.